Matthew Hooton writes something notable

Over at Pots Pans and Pannier Bags Brown’s place, they are discussing the Auckland Unitary Plan.

Russell Brown wrote

As flawed as it was in some ways, the government’s 2010 super-city legislation laid the ground for that by requiring the oversight of an independent panel rather than council-appointed commissioners.

Matthew Hooten replied

This is an interesting comment and one I broadly agree with. But isn’t it interesting that not only don’t we want councillors making long-term decisions about Auckland, we don’t even want council-appointed commissioners making decisions about Auckland?

What does this say about our confidence in local government democracy? Is there any real point in all this voting nonsense for a bunch of candidates who are mostly overwhelmingly uninspiring muppets and/or has-beens? Maybe we should follow Singapore and just abolish local government altogether. There are major geographical differences obviously but not a major population difference (Singapore has a few hundred thousand more people than NZ.

Twenty-plus years working with politicians at both levels, and I have greater confidence in even the most middling MP to at least try (or feel they should ay least pretend!) to act in the public interest than I do in any local councillor or board member. I find it difficult to think I could be more cynical about anything or anyone than I am about the the Wellington political class but, on reflection, it turns out I am.

Before Auckland’s amalgamation, this organised incompetence was limited to each city, borough or region, and the over-all damage was proportionally limited. Now that Auckland City is more or less a third of our economy, putting a bunch of idiots in charge of it isn’t that smart.

We should be hiring capable people. Not vote in political wannabes.

– Public Address

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